

In cases where progesterone hormone levels are too high, the delicate synchronization of the embryo and the uterine lining (a.k.a. To achieve the best chances of pregnancy during an IVF cycle with a fresh transfer, there are several elements that have to be timed exactly right. This study found that among patients whose progesterone levels were elevated during their IVF cycle, those who waited to have a frozen embryo transfer after their progesterone level had returned to normal had better success than patients who continued with a fresh transfer while progesterone levels were still elevated. Progesterone levels can rise in response to medications given during this stimulation phase treatment – sometimes to a level that’s higher than ideal.Īt Shady Grove Fertility, our teams of fertility specialists monitor progesterone levels closely throughout the stimulation phase of IVF treatment. Throughout the stimulation phase of IVF treatment, medications are given to patients to encourage several follicles in the ovaries to develop in the hopes of retrieving multiple eggs for fertilization. By delaying transfer of high quality embryos until a time where the uterus is not impacted by high progesterone levels, outcomes are improved. What’s the take home message? - The negative impact of high progesterone elevation on IVF outcomes derives from its impact on the endometrium, not on the embryo. This stands in contrast to previous work done at Shady Grove fertility that showed that progesterone elevation had a significant negative effect on pregnancy rates when embryo(s) were transferred in the same cycle that the progesterone elevation occurred. This study of more than 4,000 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycles showed that frozen embryo transfers (FET) of embryos derived from IVF cycles where progesterone levels were elevated were as successful as FET of embryos derived from IVF cycles with normal progesterone levels. New Study Shows Improved Pregnancy Rates with Treatment Protocol Changes in Cases of High Progesterone LevelsĪ retrospective study conducted by physicians at Shady Grove Fertility revealed that a recent change in treatment protocol resulted in higher pregnancy rates.
